CFTC to Host Cryptocurrency CEO Forum to Discuss Digital Asset Market Pilot Program

Coinbase Institutional noted in a Dec. 13 social media post this week that the Federal Reserve’s 25 basis point rate cut matched market expectations—but its plan to roll out Treasury reserve management purchases within the next 30 days is a positive signal. Key details of the plan: - Initial operation size: $40 billion - Launch date: Dec. 12 This liquidity injection arrived earlier than expected, and reserve growth may persist through April 2026. We see the Fed’s shift from balance sheet reduction to net liquidity injection as “mild quantitative easing” or “stealth QE,” which could buoy the crypto market. With federal funds futures pricing in two more 25bp rate cuts (totaling 50bp) in the first nine months of 2026, the policy backdrop may be milder than previously forecast.

Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, is seeking full control of Italian soccer club Juventus, aiming to boost its existing minority stake to 100%, CoinDesk reported on December 13. The firm announced Friday it has submitted a binding all-cash offer to Exor—Juventus’ majority shareholder—to purchase the holding company’s 65.4% stake. Should the deal close, Tether plans to launch a mandatory tender offer for the remaining shares at the same price. Juventus FC SpA, the club’s publicly traded parent company, has a market cap of roughly $925 million based on Friday’s closing price. If the acquisition goes through, Tether said it is “prepared” to invest $1 billion into the club. “Our interest in Juventus comes from deep admiration and respect,” Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO and a lifelong Juventus fan, said in a statement. “Tether has a strong financial position and plans to support the club’s growth with stable capital and a long-term vision.” Tether currently holds more th

On December 13, NYDIG Global Research Head Greg Cipolaro noted in a Friday report that stock tokenization won’t immediately deliver massive returns to the crypto market—but benefits will emerge gradually if such assets integrate better with blockchains. “The networks these assets depend on—like Ethereum—have seen modest early returns, but returns will rise in tandem as assets’ accessibility, interoperability, and composability improve,” Cipolaro wrote. He added initial returns stem mainly from transaction fees tied to tokenized asset trades, while blockchains supporting these assets will also “see growing network effects from storage demand.” “Down the line, these real-world assets could integrate into decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems, acting as loan collateral, lendable assets, or trading instruments,” Cipolaro said. “But this will take time—only achievable after technological advancement, infrastructure upgrades, and regulatory rule evolution.” He also noted building

On Friday, December 13, U.S. stock markets closed with the following moves, per market data: - S&P 500 Index: Down 1.07% - Nasdaq Composite Index: Off 1.69% - Dow Jones Industrial Average: Hit an intraday high before paring gains to end down 0.51% Cryptocurrency-related stocks broadly declined, with notable moves including: - Coinbase (COIN): -0.58% - Circle (CRCL): -5.76% - MicroStrategy (MSTR): -3.74% - Bullish (BLSH): -4.05% - Gemini (GEMI): -11.81% - Bitmine (BMNR): -9.17% - SharpLink Gaming (SBET): -8.85% - Bit Digital (BTBT): -8.54% - ETHZilla (ETHZ): -8.5% - BTCS (BTCS): -9.01% - BNB Network Company (BNC): -4.81% - ALT5 Sigma (ALTS): -2.63% - American Bitcoin (ABTC): -2.73%

On December 13, per Alternative Data, the cryptocurrency Fear & Greed Index stands at 23 today—down from 29 yesterday—signaling a return to the "extreme fear" zone. Note: The index ranges from 0 to 100 and is calculated using the following metrics: - Volatility (25%) - Market Trading Volume (25%) - Social Media Hype (15%) - Market Surveys (15%) - Bitcoin Dominance (10%) - Google Trends Analysis (10%)

Coinbase is reportedly gearing up to launch an internal prediction market backed by platform Kalshi, per CNBC citing knowledgeable sources on December 13. The move aligns with Coinbase’s strategy to expand its asset category coverage as some investors steer clear of digital assets. Sources familiar with the matter note the pair could officially announce the partnership as soon as next week. The collaboration is non-exclusive, but Kalshi will initially be the sole operator of the prediction market on Coinbase. Per *The Information*, Coinbase plans to roll out the product during its “Coinbase System Update” event on December 17. Bloomberg also reports Coinbase will announce tokenized stock products at the same event. Coinbase declined to confirm the reports to CNBC, directing inquiries to its upcoming event next week.